The Lahore High Court has expressed strong displeasure over the failure to amend police character certificate records despite court orders and directed the Inspector General of Punjab Police to immediately revise the certificate formats.The court ruled that separate character certificate formats should be introduced for convicted and acquitted individuals to ensure innocent people are not wrongly marked with a criminal record.

Justice Abher Gul Khan heard a contempt of court petition filed by petitioner Mubashir, during which the Inspector General of Punjab Police and DIG IT Mansoor-ul-Haq appeared before the court. During proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel argued that despite being acquitted in a criminal case, the petitioner’s name had not been removed from the police criminal record, even though the court had already ordered correction of the record.

The petition sought contempt proceedings against DIG Mansoor-ul-Haq and other responsible officials for failing to comply with judicial orders. During the hearing, the court expressed dissatisfaction with the current police character certificate format, observing that separate certificates must be issued for convicted individuals and those acquitted or not convicted, so that acquitted persons are not portrayed as criminals. 

The Inspector General informed the court that the police character certificate system is fully automated. In response, the court directed authorities to prepare a separate pro forma for criminal offenders and circulate it to DPOs across the province while ensuring records are corrected immediately in line with court orders. The court instructed the Inspector General to make necessary amendments to the police character certificate formats and adjourned further hearing of the case until July 6.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)